Members of the Flin Flon Fire Department can breathe a little easier at fire scenes.
The department has bought 15 brand new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs). The units typically cost around $9,000 a piece, but while exact terms were not released, the Flin Flon Fire Department and equipment supplier ABC Fire and Safety have received a deal to reduce the cost.
While the department’s existing SCBAs still work, a few of them are actually older than some members of the department.
“Some of the old ones are from 1996,” said Chad Cooper, fire chief for the Flin Flon Fire Department.
The list of features for the new units is long. Two microphones are included in the face piece to make radio communication easier. Pass alarms and man-down alarms are built into the unit. A rechargeable lithium ion battery pack powers the unit, which includes a heads-up display that shows key information on the inside of the face piece.
“There’s a reduction in operational costs, improved fire ground communications between command and the fire fighters, increased safety, we’ve got built-in pass alarms, we can change out bottles quickly, so if we have a man-down situation and someone’s out of air, we can fill quickly and get both of them out,” said Cooper.
There’s even places for improvements with the technology down the line. Other new tech, like Bluetooth integration, thermal imagery, accelerometers and location services so fire fighters can be tracked during fires, could be built in later.
Along with the technical improvement, the new gear comes with big selling point – a big warranty.
“The warranty is huge. It’s 15 years, bumper-to-bumper. That’s a huge cost savings. If something gets damaged or needs to be changed, we’re good,” said Cooper.
Fire department member Jordan Reykdal tested out the new units on May 16, saying there were large differences between the old units and new ones.
“The view is so much better,” said Reykdal, referring to the larger face piece. Reykdal was also a fan of the redesigned straps and supports.
“It’s very comfy, it doesn’t dig into your back as much. It’s comfy around the shoulders. The overall fit is much nicer.”
Cooper said one key improvement for the equipment fixes a possible safety issue with the department’s old apparatuses, adding an integrated man-down alarm.
“The biggest safety issue with our external pass alarms is that they were only clipped on. If you’re crawling around through a house, it could be ripped off – then you don’t have a man down alarm,” he said.
As for the department’s older equipment, Cooper said some of the equipment would be kept for a training program for fire fighters in remote northern communities operated by the department.
Other units will likely be sold to departments in neighbouring communities.
“There’s always a market for used SCBAs,” said Cooper.
